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About Growth & Justice

Growth & Justice is a progressive think tank committed to making Minnesota's economy simultaneously more prosperous and fair. We believe that at a time of deep partisan division, Minnesotans can unite around one goal: a strong and growing state economy that provides a decent standard of living for all.

June 17, 2008

Business doesn't need to move to have an impact on a community

[T]he 25-year-old direct-mail and promotion-fulfillment company will
receive no development subsidies from the city. It is expanding to
consolidate its business in a stable neighborhood that is close to
freeways for its customers and which boasts good workers.[...]

Anderson, whose brother is CEO, said they could have saved money by
moving the company to their hometown of Cambridge, Minn., and qualified
for tax abatements and incentives under Gov. Tim Pawlenty's "JOBZ"
rural-economic development program.

"We've made a commitment to north Minneapolis and we have
neighborhood people who walk to work," Anderson said. "We decided that
if we could make something work, we'd stay. We think our plan will
work."

Like we said... subsidies aren't necessary when other attributes businesses need to thrive are present in a community.

Business sometimes gets painted as being only about profits and making decisions based on narrow tax considerations. That doesn't describe most of the business people I know. The owners of Impact Mailing made a good business decision, but it wasn't only about them.